Lens-focusing mechanism for cameras.



PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906. F. A. BROWNELL. LENS FOGUSING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS.

AYPLIOATIOH TILED JULYIS, 1905.

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P. A. BROWNELL. LENS POGUSING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYlB, 1905.

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FRANK A. BROWNELL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN .KODAK COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LENS-FOCUSING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906'.

Application filed July 18, 1905. Serial No. 270.219.

hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying-draw- I ings, forming a part of the specification, and to the reference characters marked thereon.

My present invention relates to photographic cameras; and it has for its object to provide suitable mechanism adapted to be applied thereto, whereby the camera-lens and its focal plane or the focusing-screen may be relatively positioned to produce clear and well-defined ima es of objects located at different distances from the camera by the adjustment of a stop member to limit therelative automatic movement of said screen and the carriage supporting the lens in contradistinction to the usual manual adjustment of the lens-carria e on the camera-bed.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more 'fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a camera, illustrating the application thereto of the devices embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view .taken on the line 2 2* of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a -vertical sectional view. Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing a portion of the outer casing removed.

Similar reference characters of the several figures indicate similar parts.

In illustrating the present embodiment of my invention I have shown it in connection.

with a camera comprising a rectangular casing 1, divided by a transversely-extending partition 2 into front and rear chambers 3 and 4. The latter is provided with pockets 5 and 6, adapted, respectively, to contain a spool or cartridge of film and a winding spool or reel, the former being centered upon suit-1 able devices 7 and the latter connected to a winding=key 8, operable from the exterior of the casing 1. Extendin rearwardly from each of the pockets are lig t-excluding partitions 9, having at their extremities uiderollers 10, which serve to support the fi m extending across the rear side of the chamber 4 in the focal plane of the camera-lens and forming the focusing-screen on which the image is produced. If desired, suitable devices may be provided on the camera for supporting a holder adapted to contain a glass plate which may be used in lieu of the strip of sensitized film.

Located in the chamber 3 and guided in the front wall 15 of the camera-casing is a lens-carriage, which is preferably rectangular and comprises the upper and lower walls 16 and 17, respectively, and the side walls 18. The rear or inner ends of the latter are located within the side walls of the cameracasing and their outer ends are offset in alinement therewith, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, and between'them is supported the shutterboard 19, provided with shutter-leaves 20, and a front or cover 21. In rear of the shutter-board 19 is the lens 21, supported in a adapted to exclude the passage of rays of light into the camera-casing in rear of the lens while the latter is adjusted relatively to the focusing-screen. When in its normal position, the lens-carriage is retracted, so that the cover 21 is in alinement with the face of the front 15, and it is retained in this closed position by a spring-finger 30, having a latch end 31, cooperating with the aperture 32 in a .plate 33 on the carriage, from which it may be disengaged at the will of the operator by pressure upon a finger-pieceor button 34.

On the upper and lower walls 16 and 17 of the lens-carriage are plates 35, carrying studs 36, on which are journaled the forward ends of a pair of arms 37. These are connected at their rear ends to a pair of arms 38, pivoted on astud 39', carried on a bracket 40, rigidly connected to the outer face of the partition 2. Extending across the joints between the two pairs of arms 37 and 38 and connected thereto is a coil-spring 41, which is distended closed position and exerts a constant force tending to project the carriplge outwardly;

- similar slot arranged concentric with 193117 ing,

The means for limiting t e relative movement of the lens-carriage in the camera-casto enable it'to be readily adjusted into the proper position for roducin on the focusing-screen, accurate y-define images of objects located at various distances from the camera is accomplished by the coiiperation of a relatively movable stop member on one of the parts cooperating with an abutment on the other part, which is capable of adjustment by the operator to 'llIIllt their relative movement. Inthe present instance I have shown the abutment (indicatedby 42) on a plate 43, located between guides 44 on one of the side walls 18 of the lens-carriage. The movable stop member comprises a plate 45, j-ournaled on the inner end of a screw andocated on the inner. face of the side of. the camera-casing adjacent the abutment. The side of thecasing is provided with a se men ta'l aperture 51, and fitting over it on t e exteror of the camera is a plate 52, having a otal center of the plate 45 and rovide at one side with a plurality of notc es or teeth 53, with which coiiperates a lug or rojection 54 on the yielding laterally-exten 'ng operatinglend of the plate 45, the extremity of whic is provided with'a finger-piece 56, by means of whichit ma be depressed to disengage the projection i rom one or another of the notches. Each of the latter represent the position of'adjustment for the member 45 when it is desired to arrest the lens-carriage to focus the lens upon objects at different distancessuch as ten, fifteen, or onehundred feet, as well as other distances from the camera-and the notches are therefore gesifir ipted by the letters a,- b, c, d, e, .g, and e plate 52 is centered and he (1 accurately in position by the bod of the screw 50 and by smaller fastening screws 57, arrangedat its outer corners.

, The movable sto member formed by the late 45, is provide with a plurality of shoulem a, V, c, d,

e f g, and h, corresponding to the notches a-h in the plate 52,which are arranged successively at increasing distances from the .center of movement of the plate 45 and corres 0nd to the focal "distance of the lens when t e lens-carria e is set for making an exposure of an object ocated at a distance from the camera, said distances beingdesi ated by numerals or other characters-.on t e scale op osite the several notches -a-7t. In order to acilitate the adjustment of the movable stop, so that each of the sev- "eralshoulders thereon may be properly positioned relatively to the abutment 42 when "the; rejection 54 is disengaged from the plate '52, 1 providea segmental ring 58, having a seriesof apertures or depressions 59, w1tl1' evices, such as able stop member 45.

which a prickoint or pin (not shown) arranged on the ace of the plate 45 may cooperate. j l

Inasmuch as the focal lengths of different lenses may vary slightly within certain limits, which will determine the relative distance between it and the focusing-screen, I provide means for adjusting the abutment 42, whereby agreater movement of the lenscarriage ma be obtained for a long-focus lens than wil be required if a lens havinga shorter focal length is employed when both of said lenses are focused on objects at equal distances from them. To obtain this adjustment, the plate 43, carrying the stop 42, may be moved longitudinally on the carriage by means of a screw '60, passing through a threaded lug 63 and having a duplex head 61, engaging opposite sides of a plate 62, located against the shoulder formed by the offset in the wall 18 at the'forward end of the carriage. The late 62'is preferably locatedin the rear of t e shutter- -board 19, and access I to the head of the screw may. be obtained through an aperture in said board when the cover 21 is removed.

The operation of the devices heretofore described will be readily understood. Assuming the camera to be closed-that is, with the lens-carriage retracted in its normal position with its .face in alinement with the forward end of the camerathe pivotal points 36 and '39 of the pairs of operating-arms 37 and 38 will be' in closer proximity than shown in the illustrations Figs. 3 and 4, placing the springs 41 under an increased tension. The operator when desiring to focus the lens presses the finger-piece 56 inwardly to disengage the lug 54 thereon, when it may be rotated to any.

desired point on the index-plate 15, and

when released the luglthereon will cooperate with one of the note es or teeth a-h. This movement swings the plate 45 about its axis, causing the corresponding s'tep or shoulder a'eh tobe-arrested in a'linement with the abutment 42. By pressure upon the button 34 the latch end 31- of the spring 30 may be dis.

engaged from the plate 32 to release the lenscarriage and permit it to be impelled for-' war'dly by the springs 41 until its movement is Iimite by the engagement of the stop 42 with one of the steps or shoulderson the mov- A cameraembodying the devices I have described is simple in construction and the focusing mechanism itself may be readily applied and when inserted in a camera it may e adjusted in the. first instance so that'the lens may be focused quickly and always withthe same degree of accuracy even when the.

camera is operated by an unsln'lled person. I claim-as my invention 1. In a camera, the-combinationwith a casing, of a longitudinall -movable lensecarriage and a pivoted mem 'er niounted on one of said parts, and a plurality of graduated sto s on said member adapted to cooperate wit the other part to limit their relative movement.

2. In a camera, the combination with a casing, of a lon itudinally-movable lens-carriage, a pivote member mounted on one of said parts and located within the camera having a plurality of graduated stops adaptted to cooperate with the other part' and means arranged exteriorly of the camera for adjusting said member.

-3. In a camera, the combination with a casing, and a longitudinally-movable lenscarria e, of a relatively stationary stop arrange on one of said parts, an adjustable member on the other part, a plurality of aduated shoulders on the adjustablememer and means for adjusting said member to place one or another of said shoulders in alinement with the stop. v

4. In a camera, the combination with a casing, and a longitudinally-movable lenscarriage having a stop thereon, of an adjustable member on the casing, a plurailty of shoulders thereonand means for movin the member to place one or another of its s oulders into operative position relatively to the sto {ii The combination with a camera, comprising a lenscarriage and a focusing-screen, said parts being relatively movable, of a member mounted on one of the parts, a plurality of stops thereon each of which is adapt-v ed to cooperate with the other part and means 0 crating to move the carriage and screen re atively away from each other.

' 6. The combination with a camera, comprising a lens-carriage and a focusing-screen, of operating devices tending to move the car- .riage and screen relatively away from each other, a stationary stop on one of the parts and a movable member on the other, a plurality of ste ped shoulders on the movable member an means for adjusting the member to successively position said shoulders in alinement with the stop.

7-. The combination with a camera, com prising a lens-carriage and a focusing-screen, said parts being movable relatively toward and from each other, devices operating to separate the carriage and screen and means for lockin them against the action-of said devices, 0 a member mounted on one of the parts having a plurality of stops adapted to cooperate with the other part to limit their relative movement and means for releasing said locking means.

8. In a camera, the combination-with a casing and a movable lens-carriage therein, means normally 0 crating to project it and a locking device ho ding it in retracted position, of a pivoted member arranged on one of the parts of the camera and provided with a plurality of graduated stops cooperating with the other part, a device for adjusting said member and means for releasing the locking device. I

9. In a camera, the-combination with a casing, a lens-carriage guided in the casing and means for projecting it therefrom, of a locking device securing in retracted position, a stop on the carriage, a member ivoted in alinement with the stop, a plura ity of stepped shoulders on the member and means for operating said member to adjust one or another of said shoulders into opposition to the sto v 10. n a camera, the combination with a casing and a lens-carriage guided to move longitudinally therein, of two cooperating stop members arranged on the casing and carriage, one of them being adjustable relativel to the other and a plurality of ste ped shou I ders provided on one of said mem ers 11. In'a camera, the combinatlon with a casing and a lens-carriage movable longitudinally therein, of two stop members located on the casing and carriage, one of said members being adjustable relatively to the other and a plurality of shoulders provided on the adjustable member and cooperating with the other member to arrest the lens-carriage in various positions of adjustment.

12. In a camera, the combination with a casing having a front wall provided with an opening and a lens-carriage guided in the casiug and normally closing said opening in the front wall, of means for moving the carriage outwardly, a locking device for normally retaining it in the 'closed osition and means for limiting the outwar movement of the carriage when unlocked.

13. In a camera, the combination with a casingcomprising side walls and a front wall having an opening, a lens-carriage guided in the casing and normally closing said opening and side walls on the carriage arranged in alinement with the side walls of the casing, of focusing'mechanism com rising means for projecting the carriage an adjustable stop devices arranged between the casing and carriage in rear of the side walls on the latter.

14. In a camera, the combination with a casing having a front wall provided withan IIO opening, a (partition in the casing arranged in rear of sai wall and a lenscarriage guided in the casing, of focusing mechanism comprising means connected to the partition and carriage for projecting the latter outwardly and an adjustable stop for limiting its movement.

15. In a camera, the combination with a I comprising means forprojecting the carriage fer operating it, of an abutment on the carand .devices arran ed between the casing and r age, means adjusting theabutment loncarriage in rear'o the side walls of the latter 'gitudinally th won and a plate pivoted on 45 for automaticallylimiting the outward move-. the casing and provided with stepped shoul- 5 fment of the carriage. ders and means for rotating the p ate to sue- 16. In-a camera, the combination with a cessivl; aline saidshoulders with the abutcasing, a lens-carriage guided therein and ment. 1 s ring-operated jointed arms journaled on 21. The combination with a camera com-15o t e casing and carriage and operating to au-. rising a casing, a lens-carriage and means.

10 tomatically project the latter, of an abutor operating it, of an abutment on the carment on the carriage, a pivoted graduated riage, a plate journaled on the casin having stop-plate on the casing cooperating with the stepped shoulders cooperating with t e abutabutmen't and means for ad usting the plate. ment, a.notched scalelate and a spring-op- 5 5 '17. The combination with a camera com erating finger 'on the plate cooperating with i 5. rising a casing, a lens-carriage and means said notches.

' or operating it, of an abutmenton one of the 22. In a camera, the combination with a parts, a plate pivoted on the other partprocasing, a movable lens-carriage .thereinand vided wlth. shoulders arranged at relatively 'means'for operating it, "of an abutment-on 6c increasing distances from the pivoted point the carriage, a stop-plate having stepped 2o of'the plate'and adapted to coo erate with shoulders cooperatin with the abutment the'abutmentandmeansfor 'adius'ting the and located within te casing and a scaleplate. I 4 plate-arranged on the exter'or of the casing 18. I The cpmbination with a cameracomand provided with notches, an operating-fin 65 prising a casing, a lens-carriage and means ger on-the plate cooperatingwith said notches or operating itfof an abutment on the earand .a securing device centering the scale- .ri'age, a. plate pivoted on the casing and proplate and forminga journal for the stop-plate. videdwith'stepped shoulders, an o crating -23. Ina camera, the combination with a end on the plate rejecting exterior y of. the casing, a movabl lens-carriage therein and 70 casing and an inicating-scale on the latter means for operating it, of an abutment. on 0 cooperating with said. end. the carriage, a pivoted stop-plate having 19. The combination with a camera'comstepped shoulders cooperat' with theabutw risinga casing, a lens-carriage and meansment and a notched scale-p ate,"a yielding 1 or operating. it, of an abutmenton one of the operating-finger on the stop-plate interlock- 7 5 parts, means for'adjustingit to vary its relaing-with the notches in the scale late and a 3 5 tive osition on said part, amovable member centering-piece cooperating wit 7 the stope on 't 6 other part provided with stepped late to center the latter when the o eratingshouklers lpicated ouft ofmailine'ment 0316 with i mger is disengaged from the scale-p ate. anot er an means or 'usting sai mem 5 v I 4 .ber to aline one of said 3 oulders with the 1 f. BROWNELL' 4o abutment. Witnesses:'

The ,combination with a camera com- G. WILLARD Rron, prismga casing, a'lens-carnage and means I WALTER B. PAYNE; 

